I Didn't Go Home At All

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I Didn't Go Home At All (1909)
by Irving Berlin
475783I Didn't Go Home At All1909Irving Berlin
Verse 1

Jack and May were newly wed,
A loving pair were they,
Until the other day
When Jack said to his May:
"Tonight I have to talk some business with some businessmen,
But rest assured that I'll return at ten."
That night he left the flat,
And simple wifey sat
Up with the cat for Jack, who never came;
The day was dawning when
He rambled home again
And said: "My darling, please let me explain."

Chorus

"I heard the clock strike
One a.m., one a.m., one a.m.,
It told me of my promise
When I left you in the hall.
Before I knew 'twas
Two a.m., three a.m., four a.m.,
But you know I promised I'd be home at ten,
So I didn't go home at all.

Verse 2

Jack remarked, "It's eas'ly seen
That I'm not all to blame.
My explanation's tame;
It's true, though, just the same.
Much rather than disturb you from your slumber so divine,
I lingered just to pass away the time,
And then again, you see,
I didn't take the key,
Which proves that my intentions were the best.
I even said a pray'r
That you might not despair,
Besides I knew how much you needed rest.

Chorus

"I heard the clock strike
One a.m., one a.m., one a.m.,
It told me of my promise
When I left you in the hall.
Before I knew 'twas
Two a.m., three a.m., four a.m.,
But you know I promised I'd be home at ten,
So I didn't go home at all.

Verse 3

Jack had been forgiven and
The future seemed so bright
Until the other night;
His May was not in sight.
She went to see a sick friend but had promised to come back,
At sixty minutes after nine, to Jack.
At sixty minutes past,
Next more she came at last,
Her op'ning speech was 'I've been with my friend.
Because they said she'd die,
I wanted to be nigh,
And so I waited for the coming end."

Chorus

"I heard the clock strike
One a.m., one a.m., one a.m.,
It told me of my promise
When I left you in the hall.
Before I knew 'twas
Two a.m., three a.m., four a.m.,
But you know I promised I'd be home at ten,
So I didn't go home at all.

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.


The longest-living author of this work died in 1989, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 34 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

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